LC/MS characterization of antioxidant flavonoids from Tragia involucrata L.

Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods were developed for the identification of flavonoids with potent radical scavenging activity from Tragia involucrata, an important medicinal plant. The separation consisted of column chromatography and high pressure preparative liquid chromatography. In vitro radical scavenging activity of different fractions was screened by DPPH radical scavenging assay. The ESI MS/MS analysis was employed for the characterization of active fractions. Flavonoids such as iridin, dihexosyl quercetin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, rhamnosyl hexosyl methyl quercetin, gentenstein 7-glucoside, orientin, C-(O-caffeoyl-hexosyl)-O-hexoside and tricin 7-O-hexosyl-O-hexoside were identified, for the first time, from T. involucrata.